Illuminated stepping stone

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an illuminated stepping stone including a block having a top surface. At least one rod is embedded within the block, the rod having a first end and a second end, the rod being positioned such that the second end is visible from the top surface. A light source is located within the block and placed close enough to the first end to illuminate the first end. When electricity is supplied to illuminate the light source, the second end of the rod will also be illuminated. The block is preferably cement and the rods are preferably acrylic. The light source is preferably a bright, long-lasting, and energy efficient LED. In the preferred embodiment, the light source of a first stone may be connected to the light source of a second stone, thereby allowing several stones to be connected in series or in parallel.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH:

N/A.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to illuminated landscapingproducts and more particularly to an illuminated stepping stone.

PRIORITY

The applicant claims priority from a Provisional Patent Applicationfiled on Jun. 14, 2005, under Application No. 60/690,447.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art includes illuminated stepping stones, bricks, and otherproducts for landscaping and paving applications. However, the prior artobjects that are intended primarily for landscaping often utilize ahollow brick or stone which affects the amount of weight the stone isable to support. Some of the prior art objects have a transparentsurface so that the light within the device is visible from the top, butthis surface may often be obscured by dirt, leaves, or other commondebris when used in an outdoor setting, thus reducing the amount ofvisible light and making the object less attractive. Furthermore, priorart light sources require more power in order for the light to beclearly visible.

Thus, there is a need for a stepping stone to be used in landscaping andother applications that will support as much weight as a standard stonewithout damage to the stone or its light source and yet may beilluminated by light that is clearly visible without undue maintenanceand does not require a significant power source. The present inventionfulfills this and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an illuminated stepping stone including ablock having a top surface. At least one rod is embedded within theblock, the rod having a first end and a second end, the rod beingpositioned such that the second end is visible from the top surface. Alight source is located within the block and placed close enough to thefirst end to illuminate the first end. When electricity is supplied toilluminate the light source, the second end of the rod will also beilluminated. The block is preferably cement and the rods are preferablyacrylic. The light source is preferably a bright, long-lasting, andenergy efficient LED. In the preferred embodiment, the light source of afirst stone may be connected to the light source of a second stone,thereby allowing several stones to be connected in series or inparallel.

When the block is formed of cement or a similar material, with theacrylic rods embedded therein, the stepping stone is as strong anddurable as a standard stone, and yet provides attractive lighting.Pieces of acrylic material may be inlaid into the top surface of thestone in physical contact with the second end of a rod so that theacrylic on the surface will also be illuminated. The block may be ofvirtually any shape. The top surface may have grooves or raised portionsto create an attractive pattern or to provide traction.

The light source may be secured within the block via screws, forexample, to allow it to be removed for maintenance. The light source maybe connected to a timer, switch, photovoltaic sensor, motion detector,pressure sensor, or sound sensor to illuminate and extinguish thelighted stones according to predetermined conditions. The light sourcemay contain a voltage transformer or regulator or additional circuitryto improve functioning of the stone.

To construct the stone, the acrylic rods may be glued to holes in ahousing made of plastic or another suitable material and then placedinto a mold for the stepping stone. The plastic housing is covered onone side to create a cavity inside the housing with the rods outside thecavity. Cement is poured around the rods and the plastic housing andallowed to harden. The block is thus formed around the rods. The lightsource is then secured in the cavity in the plastic housing.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention maybe used indoors or in walls equally as well as in an outdoor landscapingstone context.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to representeach embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Additionalfeatures and benefits of the present invention are apparent from thedetailed description, figures, and claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stepping stone

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the bottom of the stepping stone, showinghow the light unit may be inserted into a cavity in the block.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example inthe drawings and are described in detail herein. It should beunderstood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited tothe particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an illuminated stepping stone (10) includes acement block (11) having a top surface (12), the top surface having aplurality of holes (13). Acrylic rods (14) are embedded within the block(11), each rod having a first end (15) and a second end (16), the secondend (16) visible through the holes (13) in the top surface (12). Acavity (17) is located within the block. A light source (18) having anassembly (19) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (20) on aperimeter of the assembly (19) is positioned within the cavity (17) suchthat each LED (20) is in contact with the first end (15) of each rod(14). A power cord (21) supplies electricity.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention tothe particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An illuminated stepping stone comprising: a block including a topsurface; at least one rod located within the block, said rod having afirst end and a second end, said second end being visible from the topsurface, said rod being capable of transmitting light from said firstend to said second end; at least one light source located within theblock, positioned such that it will illuminate said first end, therebyilluminating said second end when said light source is illuminated; andmeans for providing electrical power to the light source.
 2. Thestepping stone of claim 1, further comprising: a cavity within theblock, said first end being adjacent to or within said cavity, and saidlight source being located within said cavity.
 3. The stepping stone ofclaim 1, further comprising: means to electrically connect said lightsource to a second light source in a second illuminated stepping stone.4. The stepping stone of claim 1, in which said light source iscomprised of an assembly with one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs)spaced around a perimeter of the assembly, said LEDs being operablyconnected to the means for providing electrical power.
 5. The steppingstone of claim 1, in which said rod is made of a transparent ortranslucent plastic such as acrylic.
 6. The stepping stone of claim 1,in which said block is formed of cement.
 7. The stepping stone of claim1, in which the second end of each rod is located within an opening insaid top surface, there being one opening for each rod, said second endbeing even with said top surface.
 8. The stepping stone of claim 1, inwhich said top surface includes a plurality of raised portions toimprove traction.
 9. The stepping stone of claim 1, in which one or morepieces of acrylic are inlaid into the top surface in physical contactwith at least one second end.
 10. An illuminated stepping stone,comprising: a block including a top surface and a cavity, said cavitybeing located within said block; at least one rod located within theblock, said rod having a first end and a second end, said rod beingcapable of transmitting light from said first end to said second end,said first end being within or adjacent to said cavity and said secondend being visible from the top surface; a light source located withinsaid cavity, said light source being comprised of an assembly, at leastone light-emitting diode (LED), there being an equal number of LEDs androds, said light source being positioned such that each LED willilluminate said first end of one of said rods, thereby illuminating saidsecond end when said light source is illuminated, said LED beingoperably connected to means for providing electrical power; and meansfor connecting said light source to a second light source in a secondilluminated stepping stone.
 11. The stepping stone of claim 10, in whichsaid rod is made of a transparent or translucent plastic such asacrylic.
 12. The stepping stone of claim 10, in which said block isformed of cement.
 13. The stepping stone of claim 10, in which thesecond end of each rod is located within an opening in said top surface,there being one opening for each rod, said second end being even withsaid top surface.
 14. The stepping stone of claim 10, in which one ormore pieces of acrylic are inlaid into the top surface in physicalcontact with at least one second end.
 15. The stepping stone of claim10, in which said top surface is includes a plurality of raised portionsto improve traction.
 16. The stepping stone of claim 3 wherein aplurality of stones are connected in series.
 17. The stepping stone ofclaim 3 wherein a plurality of stones are connected in parallel.
 18. Thestepping stone of claim 10 wherein a plurality of stones are connectedin series.
 19. The stepping stone of claim 10 wherein a plurality ofstones are connected in parallel.
 20. An illuminated stepping stone,comprising: a block including a top surface, a bottom surface, and acavity, said cavity being located within said block, and said bottomsurface having an opening to said cavity; a housing located within saidcavity, said housing including a perimeter with at least one hole onsaid perimeter; at least one rod located within the block, said rodhaving a first end and a second end, said rod being capable oftransmitting light from said first end to said second end, said firstend being attached to one of said holes on said perimeter of saidhousing, said second end being visible from the top surface and evenwith the top surface; a light source located within said housing, saidlight source being removable from said housing through said opening insaid bottom surface, said light source being comprised of an assembly,at least one light-emitting diode (LED), there being an equal number ofLEDs and rods, said light source being positioned such that each LED isin physical contact with said first end of one of said rods, therebyilluminating said second end when said light source is illuminated, saidLED being operably connected to means for providing electrical power;and means for connecting said light source to a second light source in asecond illuminated stepping stone.